In memory and forever in our hearts...

   James Albert Farris

JAMES ALBERT FARRIS


James Albert Farris, 50, husband of Donna Martin Farris, father of Jaclyn Marie Farris and Jayme Alexandra Farris, died Sunday, April 20, 2008. He was a lifetime resident of Winchester, born April 29, 1957 to David and Rebecca Farris. His love of horses and farming started as a child when he raised ponies and showed Tennessee Walking and Quarter Horses with his siblings.


James A. was active in FFA and chorus at George Rogers Clark High School, where he graduated in 1975. He attended Morehead State University and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1980 with a B.S. in agriculture.


After graduation, he continued his love of horses by breaking Thoroughbred yearlings at Claiborne and Stone Farms. He later was farm manager of Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Lexington. As an employee of Hagyard, Davidson, & McGee he worked as a pharmacy technician. At the time of his death, he was employed by the Keeneland Association as stable office manager. In addition, he was a lifelong farmer and prominent sheep breeder.


He was the beloved brother and brother-in-law to Ricky and Nancy Farris Wills and Endre and Betsy Farris Fink, all of Winchester. Cherished nieces and nephews are Emily and Cole Wills, and Stefan and Allison Fink, all of Winchester. A special aunt is Marguerite Shearer. Additional nieces and nephews are Jacob, JuLeah and Adam Edie; Matthew, Caitlin, Dalton, Vada and Sara Martin, all of Morehead; and numerous cousins.


He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Kentucky Walking Horse Association past president, Clark County 4-H Council member past president, Clark County Extension District Board member vice chair, Clark County Extension Council Board member, Clark County Agriculture Development Council member, Clark County Youth Livestock Club member, past president, Clark County Fair Board member, chair sheep and swine show, District Sheep and Goat Show Committee member, chair of Extension Facility Building Committee, 4-H volunteer, Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association member.


Visitation will be from 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, until the memorial service, which will be conducted at 6 p.m. by the Rev. James Williams at the First United Methodist Church, Main Street.


Honorary women and men will be Rogers Beasley, Orville Bennett, Stuart Brown, D.V.M.; Mark Chaney, D.V.M.; Malinda Cooper; Eddie Crews; Mark Eslick, D.V.M.; Fred and Mary Farris; Tom Galbreath; Allan Gooden; Jerry Hale; John Hall; Dewey Harper; Frank Hicks; Dan Hill; Richard Holder, D.V.M.; Bobby Maxwell; Nick Nicholson; Bill O'Neil; Harold Renfro; Geoffery Russell; Sam Schalnus D.V.M.; Robert David Scobee; Vernon and Karen Shearer; Tom Thornberry; Nick and Julie Tooth; Roy Turley; Harvey Wilkinson; Lynn Williams; Asa Witt; Jimmy and Mike Young; the Keeneland Association Maintenance Crew and the Keeneland Stable Office Sales Crew.


Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Markey Cancer Foundation, UK Markey Cancer Center 800 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536-0093 or to the Clark County 4-H 1400 Fortune Drive, Winchester, KY 40391.


The online guest book is at www.scobeefuneralhome.com, and a 24-hour obituary information line can be reached by calling 744-2122.